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Theresa May Admits Defeat On Crucial Brexit Policy

Theresa May has been accused of backing away from a key Brexit
promise after she appeared to concede that a trade deal with the EU
cannot be signed until after the UK leaves.

Opponents of a hard Brexit called on the Prime Minister to ensure
that a transitional agreement was in place to avoid the risk of
disruption to business if the UK makes a "cliff edge" departure from the
EU without a trade deal.

Speaking during a visit to Jordan, Ms May said she expected the shape
of a new trade relationship to be clear to everybody by Brexit Day in
March 2019, but appeared to accept that the formal conclusion of the
agreement will have to wait until after withdrawal.

European Council president Donald Tusk left no doubt in his draft
guidelines for negotiations, released on Friday, that EU rules state
that trade deals can only be done with non-members, so that the most the
UK can hope for prior to Brexit is an "overall understanding on the
framework for the future relationship".

Ms May insisted it will be possible to reach clarity on the deal within two years.

But asked if the deal could be finalised in that timescale, she told
Sky News: "There's obviously a legal situation in terms of how the EU
can conduct trade negotiations.

"I'm clear that by the point at which we leave the EU, it's right
that everybody should know what the future arrangements, the future
relationship, that future partnership between us and the European Union
will be.

"That's the sensible thing, it's the pragmatic way to look at this, and I believe that's what we will do."